Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-01-07
THE STATE DEBT.
MR.. MASSEY on AN EXTRA
SESSION AND GOVERN
or LEE.

MR.. MAssEY's PLAN FOR A FINAL
SETTLEMENT. WHAT HE THINKS
THE GOVERNOR AND LEGIsLA-
TURE SHOULD AND SHOULD NOT
DO-SOME INTERESTING AND RE
LIABLE FACTS.
To the Editor Of the Dispatch
In discussing the question of an
extra session of the Legislature,
the Dispatch Of the 2lst instant
makes the following suggestion
"Perhaps it would be well for
Mr.. Barbour to call a meeting of
the State Central Committee to set
tie upon the policy Of the party
with respect to this natter
The Dispatch has been so uni.
formly correct in its positions (slnce
we settled our little family differ
ences In Lynchburg,) that | feel
great difiidence in dissenting from
anything it suggests. Yet, with all
Difference to its superior sagacity,
| must respectfully but emphatIcal-
" dissent from this suggestion for
several reasons.
In the first place any action of
any party, through its leaders or
otherwise, AZ "A party movement
would place Governor Lee in an
embarrassing position.
Prior to his election he was tho
candidate of a party, but when e,
after his election, he took the oat h
of Office, he became the Governor
of Virginia-ot all the people Of Fir-
giaid Of all parties.
In filling official positions each
Administration should select those
and only those who can honestly
and faithfully co operate with it in
its efforts to promote the general
welfare.
In all other official acts he should
ignore party.
If Governor Lee has any doubt
of the propriety of calling the Leg
islature together in "extra session."
let him consult or confer with
rhom he pledseS, but let no step be
taken which can subject him to the
imputation of subOrdinating his
high prerogative to party dictauon.
There are other reasons why can
not approve your suggestion, but |
will not now state them.
As | have before stated | believe
an extra session is necessary to
properly guard and protect the
most important interests of the
state, and if held, | hope all will
come together and work together
with an eye single to the best in
terests OF the whole state, and leave
party strifes behind them.
The state debt is the most i'm
portant subject which will be before
the Legislature.
/ am frequently asked what the
Legislature can do with regard to
it.
| can state in few words some
of the things which it can and ]
think ought to do
/. Pass bill prohibiting the
funding under the Riddleberger bill
OF any bond from which the coupon
which natures July |, 1887, has
been detached.
9. Propose an amendment to the
Constitution to be submitted to the
next Legislature, providing that no
future Legislature shall, after the
adoption of said amendment, make
any provision for the payment Of
any bond which has not been fund
ed under the Riddleberger bill, ex-
cept those held by schools and col
leges.
q prefer this mode Of thus amend
ing the Constitution because it can
be done thus more expedltlously
than by calling a Constitutional
Convention
3. Transfer, with some few nee
essary exceptions, the assessment
and collection of revenue to the
counties and cities of the Common
wealth.
The thought of offering, receiy-
ing, or considering any other terms
of settlement than those contained
in the Riddleberger bill should not
be entertained for a moment.
"DO not these propositions sa'
vor Of reputation y
Before answering tins question
let us conder few historical facts.
All who are familiar with the
passage of the funding bill of 1861,
which sapped the foundation OF
state sovereignty and deprived the
state of the power to control her
revenues for thlrty.fOur years, know
that it could not have been passed
but for the fraudulent use of money,
which was furnished by bondhold-
ers OF their agents. | do not mean
that all who voted for that bill were
thus Influenced. Some who voted
for it were as heightened and non
orable men as tread Virginia soil.
But | do mean TO say the bill could
not have been passed but for the
corrupt use of money furnished for
that purpose.
For ten years the people bore the
intolerable and unjust burden this
fraudulent bill imposed. When
they could no longer bear it they
did not retaliate by Offering their
oppressors less than justice and
equity dictated, but proposed to
pay their creditors about dOubic the
amount they ought to pay.
How has this liberal offer been
met
By insults, taunts and threats.
By dragging the state, like a cul-
prit, to the bar of a partisan court.
BY seeking to bribe taxpayers
to disobey the laws of Virginia, and
Offering to defend them and to save
them harmless in their disObedlence
Of their own laws.
BY seeking so to arouse the Gu
pidity OF taxpayers as to make it
override both their patriotism and
self.respect.
BY seeking through a partisan
court to deter officers of the state
from Obeying state laws.
In a word, they have been swift
to avail themselves of every oppor'
tunity to harass and humiliate Nir'
ginia and Virginians.
Now, my propositions are equiva-